What Massman Automation does

Massman Automation is a US-based manufacturer of automated end-of-line packaging machinery, founded in 1978 in Villard, Minnesota, and currently operating as the flagship brand within Massman Companies — a multi-brand roll-up of packaging equipment OEMs owned by Granite Partners since 2016. The company designs and builds case packers (top load, bottom load, side load), cartoners (vertical and horizontal), flexible pouch packaging machines (including the GP-M3000 distributed exclusively in North America), robotic palletizers, case erectors and sealers (tape and glue), tin tie machines, and pleated filter assembly systems. Core competitive technology centers on servo-driven mechanics, modular construction enabling field upgrades, and rugged designs rated for 24/7 multi-shift operation with 20–40+ year equipment lifespans.

Massman Automation operates as part of an integrated group that includes six acquired brands (EDL Packaging, Ideal-Pak, DTM Packaging, New England Machinery, Ultra Packaging, and Talon) spanning shrink wrapping, liquid filling, bottling, cartoning, and microwave popcorn packaging — collectively enabling a single-vendor supply agreement for full bottle-to-pallet production lines. The business model is hardware sales of custom-engineered equipment priced via quote-based multi-year contracts, supplemented by an aftermarket stream of OEM parts, preventative maintenance, field service, formal training, and retrofit engineering. Distribution combines an internal sales team, independent sales representatives, and strategic channel partnerships including Mettler Toledo (which brands PASE liquid fillers) and General Packer (exclusive GP-M3000 distribution).

The company serves enterprise customers across food and beverage, dairy and cheese, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, consumer products, industrial and chemical, and cannabis verticals, with manufacturing and assembly operations across at least eight US facilities spanning Minnesota, Wisconsin, California, Florida, and Illinois. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; customer engagement is led through direct consultation, formal trade show presence at Pack Expo, WestPack, CheeseCon, FILTECH, and Interpack, and channel partners. The company is privately held under Granite Partners' 100-year investment horizon, with Jeff Bigger serving as Executive Board Chair and Jeffrey Hohn as President and CEO.

Name

Massman Automation

Legal name

Massman LLC

Website

https://massmanautomation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Massman Automation designs and manufactures automated end-of-line packaging machinery — case packers, cartoners, pouch fillers, palletizers, and case erectors/sealers — for enterprise customers across food, dairy, beverage, pharmaceutical, consumer products, and industrial verticals as part of the multi-brand Massman Companies group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Packaging Machinery

NAICS

Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993), Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

End-of-Line Integration & Packaging Line Systems (IMAHAOAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cartoning & Case Packing Systems (IMAHAOAB), Bagging, Pouching & Sachet Packaging Equipment (IMAHAOAH), Filling & Dosing Machines (Liquid/Powder/Solid) (IMAHAOAF), Form-Fill-Seal (VFFS/HFFS) Machines (IMAHAOAA)

Keywords

• Case packing machinery
• End-of-line packaging equipment
• Automated pouch filling machines
• Robotic palletizing systems
• Industrial cartoning equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Automated Packaging Equipment Manufacturing: Massman Automation generates primary revenue from designing, manufacturing, and selling automated packaging machinery including case packers, cartoners, pouch fillers, palletizers, case erectors/sealers, and specialty equipment. Machines are sold as custom-engineered solutions ranging from single machines to complete end-of-line systems.
2. Aftermarket Parts and Service: Comprehensive aftermarket support including spare parts (OEM recommended parts), field service support, preventative maintenance programs, formal equipment training, and retrofit engineering capabilities. The company emphasizes OEM parts for extending machine life and optimal performance.
3. Machine Retrofits and Upgrades: Customers can retrofit existing machines to improve efficiencies and reliability without purchasing new equipment. Retrofitting options include tool-less changeover options, HMI/PLC upgrades, camera integration, and safety interlocks. Reduces lead times by 50% through modular design principles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Massman Automation designs and manufactures automated end-of-line packaging machinery, including case packers, case erectors and sealers, flexible pouch packaging equipment, robotic palletizers, vertical and horizontal cartoners, tin tie machines, and pleated filter assembly systems. The company sells custom-engineered equipment ranging from single machines to complete integrated production lines, supported by aftermarket parts, field service, preventative maintenance, and retrofit engineering capabilities. Through its affiliated Massman Companies brands, it offers single-source line solutions spanning unscrambling, filling, capping, cartoning, case packing, shrink wrapping, and palletizing.

Product overview

Massman Automation is a leading manufacturer of automated packaging equipment offering a comprehensive portfolio of machinery for end-of-line packaging solutions. The company operates as part of Massman Companies, a family of packaging equipment brands united by common business systems and processes. Core products include Case Packers (top load, bottom load, side load), Case Erecting & Sealing Machines, Flexible Pouch Packaging (including GP-M3000 and HFS-IMI series), Palletizing Machines, Cartoners (vertical and horizontal), Tying Equipment, and specialized equipment for dairy, cheese, butter, ice cream, and cannabis products. The product portfolio is enhanced through strategic acquisitions: EDL Packaging (shrink wrapping/bundling), Ideal Pase (liquid filling), DTM Packaging (bottling/packaging), New England Machinery (unscrambling/capping), and Ultra Packaging (cartoning). The company serves diverse industries including Food, Beverage, Dairy, Consumer Goods, Pharmaceuticals, Nutraceuticals, and provides equipment from single machines to complete integrated production lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Talon: Microwave popcorn packaging machinery brand acquired in 2010, operating under Talon Massman entity.
• GP-M3000

Products and services

• 40-Pound Cheese Block Case Packer Fully automated wrap-around case packer designed for high-speed case packing of 40-pound cheese blocks at up to 25 blocks per minute, featuring a collar inserter, servo-driven loader, cross-pushing system, and dual-driven change case system for precise squaring. Built for 24/7 production in dairy environments.
• Case Packer Machines (Top Load, Bottom Load, Side Load) High-performance case packing machines in top load, bottom load, and side load configurations for reliable, high-speed production with gentle product handling suitable for flexible or complex products.
• Case Erecting & Sealing Machines Case erecting and sealing equipment that quickly folds flat boxes into sturdy containers and seals them with secure tape or hot glue, including compact machines and HMT-Mini modular sealers.
• HMT-Mini Top Only Case Sealer Compact, modular top-only case sealer with innovative modular construction allowing features to be changed by replacing modules rather than buying new equipment. Standard speeds up to 1,500 cases per hour and up to 3,000 cases per hour with extended compression option. Seals using glue or tape.
• Flexible Pouch Packaging Machines Flexible pouch packaging equipment for filling and sealing pouches in various configurations including stand-up, side-gusseted, flat-bottom, and 3-side seal pouches, including the GP-M3000 and HFS-IMI series.
• GP-M3000 Automated Pouch Filling & Sealing Machine Automated bag filling and sealing machine capable of up to 65 packages per minute, accommodating pouch sizes up to 4.4 pounds and stand-up, side-gusseted, flat-bottom, and 3-side seal configurations. Distributed exclusively in North America by Massman Automation under partnership with General Packer.
• HFS-IMI 1100 Inline Fill/Seal Pouch Machine Inline fill and seal machine for pre-made pouches featuring five-minute bag clamp width changeover and bag squaring device for proper pouch clamp placement, designed and built in the USA with AB PLC, HMI, and servos for 24/7 multi-shift operation.
• Robotic Palletizing Machines End-of-line robotic palletizing equipment for automated stacking and organizing of packaged products for shipping and storage.
• Vertical and Horizontal Cartoners Automated vertical and horizontal cartoning machines for shaping, filling, and sealing carton boards, with automatic and semi-automatic options for food, personal care, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.
• Talon Microwave Popcorn Packaging Machines Specialized automated packaging machinery for the microwave popcorn industry, including equipment from the Talon brand acquired in 2010 and operating under Talon Massman.
• Pleated Filter Assembly Systems Automated pleated filter assembly machinery for manufacturing air filters, acquired through Midmac in 2005.
• Tin Tie Machines Tin tie machines for packaging applications requiring reclosable features.
• Butter Case Packer Specialized case packing machine designed for efficient and reliable packaging of butter sticks and tubs in frozen and refrigerated conditions.
• Knock Down Case Packer for Ice Cream Cartons Case packing machine designed for cartons of ice cream with knock-down configuration for efficient handling.
• Cheese Barrel Erector & Lid Placer Automated equipment for erecting corrugated cheese barrels and placing lids, specifically designed for bulk cheese product packaging.
• EDL Packaging Equipment (Shrink Wrappers, Bundlers, Tray Formers, Roll Wrappers) Shrink wrappers, shrink bundlers, corrugated tray formers and loaders, roll wrappers, automatic flight bar wrappers, and semi-automatic wrapping equipment marketed under the EDL Packaging Engineers brand (acquired October 2016).
• Ideal Pase Liquid Filling Systems Fully and semi-automatic liquid filling systems for paint/coatings, chemical, lubricant, and food industries, marketed under the Ideal-Pak / Ideal Pase brand (acquired June 2018) and distributed in partnership with Mettler Toledo.
• DTM Packaging Bottling and Custom Automation Equipment Bottling, packaging, and custom automation equipment including walking beam flow meter fillers, cappers, accumulation tables, and full line integration, marketed under the DTM Packaging brand (acquired September 2019).
• New England Machinery (NEM) Bottle Handling Equipment Bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, scoop feeders, pump sorters and placers, and spout inserters marketed under the New England Machinery (NEM) brand (acquired March 2022).
• Ultra Packaging Vertical and Horizontal Cartoning Machines Vertical and horizontal automated cartoning machines serving food, personal care, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, with high-speed continuous motion machines ranging from manual to fully robotic loading, marketed under the Ultra Packaging brand (acquired January 2023).

Quantifiable outcome

• 40-Pound Cheese Block Case Packer achieves speeds up to 25 blocks per minute, enabling dairy producers to process 150 blocks of cheese from a vat that previously produced only 12 barrels
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• General PackercoreTechnology or IntegrationMassman Automation is the exclusive North American Authorized Distributor for General Packer's GP-M3000 Automated Pouch Filling and Sealing Machine. The partnership ensures availability of advanced flexible pouch packaging equipment with reliable support and service for North American clients.
• Mettler ToledocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPASE Group (now Ideal Pase) maintains a dedicated distribution relationship with Mettler Toledo. PASE/Mettler Toledo branded fillers are incorporated into Mettler Toledo's full production line offerings, providing broader market reach than Massman could achieve independently.
• Rockwell AutomationstrategicTechnology or IntegrationMassman partnered with Rockwell Automation on a project updating knockdown case packer design to accommodate evolving technologies. Additionally utilizing Vuforia Expert Capture augmented reality technology to broaden customer offerings in service and support capabilities.
• CannaCribsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCannaCribs produced a video featuring co-packer Artemis and Massman's GP-M3000 pouch filler for cannabis packaging, demonstrating the machine capabilities and co-packing facility operations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Serpa Packaging Solutions: Serpa Packaging Solutions designs and builds cartoning, case packing, and end-of-line packaging machinery for pharmaceutical, food, personal care, and nutraceutical markets. Its cartoning and case packing product lines overlap directly with Massman's Ultra Packaging and core offerings.
• Planet Products Corporation: Planet Products designs and builds cartoning, case packing, and end-of-line packaging equipment for food, personal care, and pharmaceutical manufacturers. It is a comparable independent manufacturer competing in similar verticals and equipment categories.
• Delkor Systems: Delkor Systems specializes in case packing, tray forming/loading, and shrink-wrapping equipment for food, beverage, and consumer goods manufacturers. It competes directly with Massman in case packing and end-of-line packaging solutions.
• ProMach: ProMach is a leading privately held packaging machinery group built through extensive roll-up acquisitions, offering case packing, cartoning, pouching, palletizing, filling, and labeling solutions across food, beverage, dairy, pharma, and CPG end markets. It is the most direct competitor to Massman's "bottle to pallet" multi-brand packaging platform strategy.
• Hamrick Packaging Systems: Hamrick Packaging Systems manufactures case erectors, case sealers, case packers, and palletizing equipment for food, beverage, and consumer goods customers. Its equipment portfolio is closely comparable to Massman's Elliott and EDL product lines.
• Douglas Machine: Douglas Machine designs and manufactures high-speed case packers, cartoners, and shrink-wrapping systems for food, beverage, personal care, and pharmaceutical customers. Its case packing and cartoning portfolio directly overlaps with Massman's core product lines and customer verticals.
• Kaufman Engineered Systems: Kaufman Engineered Systems manufactures end-of-line packaging equipment including case packers, case erectors/sealers, and palletizers for food, beverage, and industrial customers. Its product portfolio and target customers closely mirror Massman's core offering.

Broad incumbents

• BW Packaging (Barry-Wehmiller): BW Packaging is a division of Barry-Wehmiller supplying complete packaging lines including case packing, cartoning, form-fill-seal, palletizing, and end-of-line equipment. As a much larger diversified industrial group, it competes with Massman across multiple product categories, particularly in food, beverage, and dairy.

Emerging players

• Quest Industrial (FIKE): Quest Industrial provides robotic palletizing, case packing, and turnkey packaging line solutions for food, dairy, and consumer goods manufacturers. Its robotic packaging integration capabilities are comparable to Massman's robotic palletizer and end-of-line integration offerings.
• BluePrint Automation (BPA): BluePrint Automation specializes in top-load robotic case packing and cartoning systems for food, beverage, and consumer goods. Its focus on flexible robotic packaging solutions intersects with Massman's robotic palletizing and case packing portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Massman-Automation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/massman-automation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Massman Automation